Outfielders On The Mend For Red Sox

Jacoby Ellsbury #2 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after he was injured in a double play in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during the home opener on April 13, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON (CBS) – The outfield of injuries is on the mend for the Boston Red Sox.

Jacoby Ellsbury has been cleared to begin throwing, and Carl Crawford could receive the same clearance by the end of the week, manager Bobby Valentine announced Wednesday.

Ellsbury, the 2011 MVP runner-up, has been on the DL since April 14 when he partially dislocated his right shoulder in the team’s home opener.

“[Ellsbury] is doing great,’’ Valentine said of his center fielder, who has missed 49 games with the injury. “He is throwing, hitting off the tee and running the bases. It will be a normal progression barring any setbacks, but he is feeling great. Eventually we will have him do real activities, batting practice, then start games.”

Valentine was not sure when that will occur with Ellsbury. He also added that Crawford will likely be cleared to throw by the end of the week.

It has been a season of frustration for Crawford after his disappointing first year in Boston. The 30-year-old entered Spring Training on the mend from January surgery on his left wrist, but made significant progress. He hit a setback though, and had to be shut down in late April with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.

There is also a bit of good news on minor league outfielder Ryan Kalish, who returned to the Pawtucket Red Sox Tuesday night. He is 4-for-5 in his two games back, blasting two home runs, driving in four runs while also walking four times.

Kalish missed nearly all of last season after injuring his shoulder last April in Pawtucket. He also suffered a neck injury shortly after going on the DL, and underwent two surgeries for the ailments.